Process for safety release of a ski boot and binding for carrying said process

ABSTRACT

The disclosure herein describes a safety binding which allows a ski boot to be freed from the ski in the event of a safety release by initially forcing the boot to move parallel to the plane of the ski without any possibility of lifting and then allowing it to lift; the lifting movement is braked resiliently to allow it to take place progressively and lateral movement is retained until the release has been completed. The binding therefore includes a resilient system for locking the binding in a normal boot-holding position and a stop system consisting of two profiles cooperating to prevent the lifting of the boot while the boot is in its normal boot-holding position. The binding further includes a relaying element which, after separation of both profiles, cooperates with one of them to brake the lifting movement of the boot while the action of the resilient system continues to be transmitted to the boot.

Unite States Patent Salomon Sept. 30, 1975 PROCESS FOR SAFETY RELEASE OF A SKI BOOT AND BINDING FOR CARRYING SAID Primary E-Y minerR0bert R. Song PROCESS [76] Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, 34 [57] ABSTRACT Avenue de Loverchy Annecy The disclosure herein describes a safety binding which France allows a ski boot to be freed from the ski in the event [22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1974 of a safety release by initially forcing the boot to move parallel to the plane of the ski without an ossibilit {2H Appl' 5l6422 of lifting and then allowing it to lift; the Ii ftihg move ment is braked resiliently to allow it to take place pro- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data gressively and lateral movement is retained until the 0m. 23 1973 France 73.37729 release has been Completed The binding therefore cludes a resilient system for locking the binding in a 52 us. Cl 280/1 1.35 T normal boot-holding Position and a Stop System A63C 9/08 sisting of two profiles cooperating to prevent the lift- Field of Search 280/11l35 T ing of the boot While the boot is in its normal bootholding position. The binding further includes a relay- [56] References Cited ing element which, after separation of both profiles,

UNITED STATES PATENTS cooperates with one of them to brake the lifting movement of the boot while the action of the resilient sys- 3,649,037 3/1972 Vouthler 280/1 1.35 T tem continues to be transmitted to the bot- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 15 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures 2.220 040 4/1972 Germany 280/1 1.35 T

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet1of4 3,909,029

HG] 8 '7 l US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet2of4 3,909,029

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet3 Of4 3,909,029

PROCESS FOR SAFETY RELEASE OF A SKI BOOT AND BINDING FOR CARRYING SAID PROCESS The present invention relates to a method for freeing a ski boot, in the event of a safety release, from the ski to which it is held by means of a safety binding.

The stresses acting upon the members of skiers at the time of a fall are known to be of two types:

a. bending, in the event of a forward fall,

b. twisting, in the event of lateral loading.

However, the stresses arising are usually more complex, being a combination of bending and twisting.

Known safety bindings, used to prevent accidents due to these two types of stress, may be divided into two categories, namely:

1, bindings reacting to a single type of stress, for instance heel-pieces which open only vertically and release when bending stresses are applied, and forward stops which release only laterally. These single-action heel-pieces and stops are generally associated on the same ski, so that the binding as a whole provides protection against the two types of stress;

2. bindings reacting to both bending and twisting stresses, namely heel-pieces or front stops which release both laterally and vertically and which themselves provide complete safety. Depending upon the circum stances, a binding of this type may be used alone to hold one end of a boot, of which the other end is held by a fitting which plays no part in safety, or it may be associated with a heel-piece or stop of the kind mentioned above, or with another binding of the same kind.

The present invention relates specifically to improvements to bindings of the second category. Some known bindings of this type have a boot-retaining jaw hinged to a stationary element in a manner such that the jaw may either move transversely of the ski or may rock vertically. In some of these bindings, a stop system prevents the jaw from rocking vertically until it has been displaced laterally against the action of a resilient element, the jaw being free to open fully and immediately, as soon as it escapes from the stop system. Bindings of this type are described, for instance, in Swiss Pat. No. 502,830 filed on Jan. 21 1970, and in two French Pats. No. 1,339,477 filed on Nov. 27, 1962 and No. 1,047,353 filed on Dec. 23, 1951. These bindings, however, have certain disadvantages, among which are the following:

abrupt vertical opening of the jaw after a relatively slight lateral displacement;

lack of continuity and progressiveness in the release of the binding, by reason of the abrupt vertical opening of the jaw;

lack of resilient travel, or inadequate resilient travel,

of the jaw, which may result in inopportune release of the boot during normal skiing when the skier is in no danger;

difficulty in putting the ski on again, becasue the jaw generally has to be returned manually to the position in which it holds the boot;

instability in the jaw-opening position in certain cases.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention proposes to release the boot by a method consisting in:

forcing the boot to move initially in parallel with the plane of the ski and making it impossible for the boot to lift, as it does in the case of known bindings;

allowing the boot subsequently to lift progressively,

in relation to the ski, against the action of a resilient means, and leaving it free to move laterally until it is completely released.

This provides a sort of braking of the jaw in its vertical opening movement, which allows the jaw to snap back resiliently into its normal holding position, if the release stress should cease.

The invention also relates to a new type of binding which comprises a resilient system for locking the binding in a normal position of boot holding on the ski, lateral displacement at the time of release being effected against the action of this system, and a system of stops consisting of a first stop profile mounted on the ski, and a second stop profile controlled by the movement of the boot, the profiles co-operating to prevent any lifting of the boot; this binding is furthermore characterized in that it comprises a relaying element which, after the first and second stop profiles have been separated, continues to transmit to the boot the action of a resilient locking system which prevents the boot from lifting in relation to the ski.

According to one configuration of the invention, the relaying element consists of two lateral ramps preferably located on each side of one of the stop profiles, and forming an angle with the plane of the ski. The relaying element may either be attached to the ski and cooperate with a part of the jaw, or it may be integral with the jaw, or with a plate associated with the boot, and co-operate with a stationary structure on the ski.

Instead of being in one piece, the two sloping ramps may be independent and associated with a conventional locking system.

According to another configuration of the invention, the relaying element consists of a link arrangement of a resilient locking system which provides for lateral and vertical release.

Various forms of embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of non-restrictive examples, in conjunction with the drawings attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section of a first form of execution of a binding according to the invention;

FIG. 1a is a detail from FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stationary structure with which the binding in FIG. 1 co-operates;

FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of a second form of execution;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the binding in FIG. 4;

FIG'. 6 is a section along the line VIVI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a third form of execution of a binding according to the invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are, respectively, a section along the line VIIIVIII and a view on the direction of arrow 9 in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views similar to those in FIGS. 7 and 9, showing the binding in course of release;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views similar to those in FIGS. 10 and 11, showing the binding towards the end of the release;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a fourth form of execution of a binding according to the invention;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation, in part section, of FIG. 14; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views similar to those in FIGS. 14 and 15, showing the binding in the position of release.

The binding according to FIGS. 1 to 3 consists of an element 1 equipped with a boot-retaining jaw 2 and mounted on a ball-joint 3 located at the end of a rod 4 and secured, for example by welding, to a base-plate 5 designed to be attached to ski 6 by means of screws 7, for example. Located in a bore 8 in the element 1 is a resilient means for locking the element in its normal boot-retaining position, said means consisting of a ball 9 urged towards the ball-joint 3 by a spring 10 which may be adjusted by a screw 11 running in a thread in bore 8. In the normal position shown in FIG. 1, the ball 9 enters a housing 12 which is arranged in ball-joint 3 and is in the form of a dish having a flared wall, as shown in section in FIG. 1 and from the outside in FIG. la. Facing jaw 2 on element 1 is a roller 13 rotating freely on a shaft 14 running in lugs 15 of the element 1. The roller co-operates with a part 16 which is secured to base-plate 5 and has a flat upper surface 17 and two symmetrical lateral ramps 18a, 18b. These ramps slope down from surface 17 to the ski, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, part 16, as seen from above, is in the form of an arc with its centre at axis 00 of ball-joint 3.

It will be understood that if a load is applied to jaw 2 when the binding is in the normal position shown in FIG. 1, roller 13, resting on surface 17, prevents any lifting of the jaw. On the other hand, there is nothing to prevent the binding from moving laterally against the action of resilient means 9, 10, 11, but as soon as roller 13 passes edge 19 defining surface 17 and ramps 18a, 18b, the binding element may lift, but this lifting will be progressive until roller 13 finally leaves ramp 18a or 181; on which it was rolling.

This progressive lifting is due to the fact that ball 9 cannot escape from its housing 12 until roller 13 is in contact with ramp 18a or 18b. The lifting movement is therefore braked by compression of spring 10 of the locking system. Furthermore, it will be understood that if the releasing load ceases to be applied before roller 13 leaves ramp 18a or 18b, and therefore before locking-system ball 9 emerges completely from housing 12, the jaw will be returned resiliently to its normal position on the ski, thanks to the shape of the wall of the housing.

In FIG. 3, hatched area Z1 is the area of interdiction of free lifting of a median point A of the jaw. The shape of this interdicting area is, of course, symmetrical with the shape of part 16. The interdicting area is identical for all points on the jaw, and the travel of the jaw on each side of its normal position will be defined by dotted line 21.

Angle a of ramps 18a, 18b, which also defines the slope of lines 21 limiting the interdicting area, is such that 0 a (11/2). The choice of the value of angle 01 makes it possible to define the desired relationship between the lateral and vertical release values. The vertical-release value should always be greater than the lateral-release value. The closer at to O, the greater the vertical-release load should be.

Vertical release may be effected by the boot slipping in the jaw after roller 13 has travelled a certain distance along ramp 18, or it may be defined mechanically by the ramp.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a configuration of the invention in which boot 23 is temporarily secured to a sole-plate 24, of which only the front end is shown. This plate has a fixed jaw 25 which holds the toe of the boot. The conventional fastening, shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, comprises an element 26, attached to ski 1 by screws, for example, containing a sliding piston 27 which is caused to project from the element by a spring 28, a screw 29 for adjusting the force of the spring being engaged in a thread in element 26. The piston, the head of which is rounded off, rests against a conventional release ramp 30 located at the front end of plate 24, the ramp consisting of two flat surfaces in the form of a V opening towards the fastening element and sloping rearwardly in relation to the ski.

According to the invention, the sole plate also has a central flat surface 31 flanked by ramps 32, 33 inclined towards the ski. As shown quite clearly in FIG. 5, the ramps are hollowed out from top to bottom towards the ski. Surface 31 and ramps 32, 33 co-operate with a stationary stop finger 34 which is integral with element 26 or is rigidly secured to the ski, free end 35 of this finger pointing vertically towards the ski and being rounded off in order to reduce friction. In the normal operative position, end 35 of the finger bears against surface 31 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and prevents any lifting of plate 24. On the other hand, as soon as the plate slides laterally and brings the finger into contact with one or the other of ramps 31, 32, the plate may lift (see FIG. 6), although the amount of lift is still limited by the contact between the finger and the ramp. FIG. 6 shows the path travelled by the plate in the case of a release towards the right.

Another form of execution will now be described in conjunction with FIGS. 7 to 13. This again is a so-called plate fastening, i.e. the boot is temporarily secured by means of a sole-plate 40 which is of conventional type and will therefore not be described in detail. The toe of the boot is held, as usual, by a jaw 41 integral with the plate.

The plate is held at the rear by any suitable means, for instance a bridge system which holds down the rear part of the plate. In the example illustrated, the front part of the plate co-operates with a known locking system such as that described in French Patent Application 72-16741 of May 10, 1972, in the name of Georges, Pierre, Joseph Salomon and entitled Safety binding for a ski boot.

This locking system is shown diagrammatically in the drawings and will not be described in detail. It will be sufficient to point out, in order that the invention may be understood, that it consists of two arms 42, 43 hinged to the ski at 44 and 45 respectively, the arms intersecting at the longitudinal centreline of the ski and being subjected to the action of a piston 46 loaded by a spring 47, the force of which is adjustable. In FIGS. 10 and 12, this piston is symbolized by an arrow.

In order to achieve the purpose of the invention, the front end of the plate has two lateral release ramps 48, 49, the shape of which is shown in the vertical section in FIG. 8. These ramps slope from bottom to top towards the jaw and converge towards the centreline of the ski. The bases of these ramps have a projection 50 which allows them to engage under the free end of arms As may be seen very clearly in FIGS. 9, 11 and 13, the ends of the arms, as seen in the direction of arrow xx in FIG. 7, are in the form of a hook with a flat surface 51 substantially parallel with the plane of the ski and extending outwardly in the form of a ramp 52 sloping outwardly from bottom to top) In the normal operative position shown in FIGS. 7, 8

and 9, projections 50 on release ramps 48, 49 bear against flat surfaces 51 on arms 42, 43. If a load having a lateral component is applied to the plate, it will first of all slide in the plane of the ski (FIG. 10), as long as projections 50 are in contact with surface 51. Thereafter (FIGS. 11 and 13), projection 50 will be guided by ramp 52 and will allow the plate to lift. (In order to make the figures easier to understand, the projection on ramp 48 is shown at A, while the nose between surface 51 and ramp 52 on each arm is shown at B in each drawing).

It is to be understood that the plate shown in FIGS. 4 to 13 may be permanently secured to the boot; it may even be cut into the sole of the boot. It is also to be understood that any action may be taken to make parts in contact slide more easily.

Finally, FIGS. 14 to 17 illustrate-an adaptation, according to the invention, of a binding similar to that described in French Pat. l,584,487, of Feb. 28, I968. Only the elements necessary for understanding the in vention will be dealt with.

Secured to ski 1 is a fastening element 60 having housings 61, 62 on each side of its centreline. Sliding in each of these housings is a piston 63 which is caused to project by means of a spring 64 resting against an adjusting screw 65. Extending transversely through a central lug is a horizontal shaft 66 which rotates in the lug and is located laterally by means of a shoulder 67 in the large end of the shaft and a circlip located in a groove in the smaller end of the shaft. The large part of the shaft has a flat 69 on which one of pistons 63 rests when the device is in its normal position. Furthermore, links 70, 71 are hinged at 72, 73 to the large and smaller parts of shaft 66, the links carrying, at their free ends a jaw 74 hinged about vertical axes 75. Link 70 extends beyond hinge-point 72, so that its end 76 bears against second piston 63. S indicates the sole of the boot engaging with jaw 74.

It will be understood that, as a result of this arrangement, purely lateral displacement of the jaw will cause the links to pivot in a horizontal plane, thus compress- .ing the resilient system associated with link 70, whereas "the other resilient system will not be affected (see FIG.

16). If, on the other hand, the jaw is subjected to a load tending to lift it (see FIG. 17 the links will cause shaft 66 to rotate, and fiat 69 will act as a cam to compress the resilient system associated therewith.

According to the invention, the jaw is equipped with a hooked part 78, nose 79 of which co-operates with nose 80 of another hook-shaped element 81 accommodated in the fastening element. When hooks 78 and 81 are in contact (FIGS. 14 and they prevent any lifting of the jaw, but do not interfere with the lateral movement thereof.

When hook 78 leaves hook 80 as a result of such lateral movement (FIG. 16), the jaw can lift vertically and is urged so to do. Thanks to the design of the fastening element, however, this lift will be progressive, as a result of the co-operation between flat 69 and piston 63 of the relevant resilient system. Although hook 81 may be rigidly attached to the fastening element, preferably in accordance with the invention and as shown in the drawings, it will be mounted slidingly in an appropriate 81 to move away, because of the resiliency of the locking system, allowing hook 79 to engage under nose 80.

What I claim is: g

1. A method for freeing a ski boot, in the event of a safety release, from the ski on which it is held by means of a safety binding, said method consisting in: forcing the boot initially to move parallel with the plane of the ski without any possibility of lifting, and subsequently allowing it to lift in relation to the ski, characterized in that in the course of the second phase of the release of the boot, the lifting movement thereof is braked resilientlv and thus takes place progressively, whereas the ability to-move laterally is retained until the release has been completed.

2. A safety binding for the execution of the method according to claim 1, said binding providing, in the event of a safety release, first of all a purely lateral movement of the boot and then, after a certain amount of travel, a lifting of the boot in order to allow complete release, said binding comprising:

a resilient system for locking the binding in the normal position for holding the boot to the ski, the movement of the boot, upon its release, being effected against the action of said resilient locking system,

and a stop system consisting of a first stop profile mounted on the ski and a second stop profile controlled by the movement of the boot, said profiles co-operating in preventing any lifting of the boot in relation to the ski while said boot is in its normallyheld position,

said binding being characterized in that it comprises a relaying element which, after said first and second stop profiles have been separated, co-operates with one of said stop profiles to brake the lifting of the boot, while the action of the resilient locking system continues to be transmitted to the boot.

3. A binding according to claim 2, characterized in that said relaying element consists of two lateral ramps arranged symmetrically on each side of one of said stop profiles, said ramps forming an angle with the plane of theski, in such a manner that, in the event of lateral movement of the boot, the latter is held in the plane of the ski during the portion of the travel corresponding to the co-operation of said stop profiles, whereas the boot may simultaneously move laterally and lift, in relation to the ski, when one of the stop profiles comes into contact with one of the lateral ramps.

4. A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is held by a jaw mounted on the ski in such a manner as to be able to move both laterally and vertically against the action of a resilient locking system, a first stop profile being integral with the jaw and following all of the movements thereof, whereas the second stop profile is integral with a structure attached to the ski, characterized in that the lateral ramps constituting the relaying element are also integral with the ski and extend the second stop profile on each side thereof= 5. A binding according to claim 4, characterized in that said second stop profile, and the relaying element, form a single part of a generally trapezoidal configuration attached to the ski presenting a flat area parallel with the ski and raised in relation thereto, said area enclosing the. second stop profile and being flanked by two lateral ramps sloping towards the ski and constituting the relaying element.

6. A binding according to claim 5, characterized in that, in the plane of the ski, the trapezoidal part is in the form of an arc centred on the hinge axis of the jaw on the ski.

7. A binding according to claim 5, characterized in that the second stop profile, integral with the jaw, consists of a roller bearing on the trapezoidal part.

8. A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is integral with a sole-plate held in place on the ski at the back and front and adapted to release in safety against the action of a resilient locking system integral with the ski, characterized in that the first stop profile consists of an element integral with the ski, the end of which extends above one of the ends of said sole-plate and presents a flat central area parallel with the ski, extended laterally, and on each side, by a sloping ramp running from said flat area towards the ski.

9. A binding according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the sloping ramps widens out progressively in its plane, from the flat area to the ski.

' 10; A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is integral with a sole-plate held in place on the ski, at the back by the engagement of said plate under a bridge and, at the front, by co-operation between said plate and a resilient locking system mounted on the ski and consisting of two arms hinged to the ski, said arms being urged into a specific retaining position by a spring, characterized in that each of the arms of the resilient locking system has a flat area parallel with the ski'constituting a part of the first stop profile, said flat area being extended by a ramp which slopes in relation to the plane of the ski and constitutes a part of the relaying element, whereas the sole-plate comprises, at the end facing the locking system, a release ramp constituting the second stop profille and co-operating with ends of said arms.

1 1, A binding according to claim 10, characterized in that the ramp for releasing the plate comprises a nose engaging under the ends of the hinged arms.

12. A binding according to claim 11, characterized in the ramps of the arms slope upwardly and towards the sides of the ski from the flat area which they extend.

13. A binding according to claim 3, characterized in that the slope of the lateral ramps is between zero and 17/2.

14. A binding according to claim 2, designed to cooperate with one of the ends of the boot to allow lateral and vertical releases, and comprising a binding element attached to the ski and a jaw for retaining the boot hinged to said element so that it may move laterally and may lift, in relation to the ski, against the action of at least one resilient locking system, said binding comprising a first stop profile mounted in said element and cooperating with a second stop profile secured to the jaw, in order to prevent said jaw from lifting when it is in its normal position holding the boot to the ski, characterized in that the relaying element, opposing free lifting of the jaw after separation of the stop profiles, consists of a mobile part actuated by said jaw at the moment of its vertical displacement, said mobile part acting upon the resilient locking system.

15. A binding according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two resilient locking systems, one of them retaining the boot in the plane of the ski, and the other retaining the boot in a plane at right angles to the plane of the ski. 

1. A method for freeing a ski boot, in the event of a safety release, from the ski on which it is held by means of a safety binding, said method consisting in: forcing the boot initially to move parallel with the plane of the ski without any possibility of lifting, and subsequently allowing it to lift in relation to the ski, characterized in that in the course of the second phase of the release of the boot, the lifting movement thereof is braked resiliently and thus takes place progressively, whereas the ability to move laterally is retained until the release has been completed.
 2. A safety binding for the execution of the method according to claim 1, said binding providing, in the event of a safety release, first of all a purely lateral movement of the boot and then, after a certain amount of travel, a lifting of the boot in order to allow complete release, said binding comprising: a resilient system For locking the binding in the normal position for holding the boot to the ski, the movement of the boot, upon its release, being effected against the action of said resilient locking system, and a stop system consisting of a first stop profile mounted on the ski and a second stop profile controlled by the movement of the boot, said profiles co-operating in preventing any lifting of the boot in relation to the ski while said boot is in its normally-held position, said binding being characterized in that it comprises a relaying element which, after said first and second stop profiles have been separated, co-operates with one of said stop profiles to brake the lifting of the boot, while the action of the resilient locking system continues to be transmitted to the boot.
 3. A binding according to claim 2, characterized in that said relaying element consists of two lateral ramps arranged symmetrically on each side of one of said stop profiles, said ramps forming an angle with the plane of the ski, in such a manner that, in the event of lateral movement of the boot, the latter is held in the plane of the ski during the portion of the travel corresponding to the co-operation of said stop profiles, whereas the boot may simultaneously move laterally and lift, in relation to the ski, when one of the stop profiles comes into contact with one of the lateral ramps.
 4. A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is held by a jaw mounted on the ski in such a manner as to be able to move both laterally and vertically against the action of a resilient locking system, a first stop profile being integral with the jaw and following all of the movements thereof, whereas the second stop profile is integral with a structure attached to the ski, characterized in that the lateral ramps constituting the relaying element are also integral with the ski and extend the second stop profile on each side thereof.
 5. A binding according to claim 4, characterized in that said second stop profile, and the relaying element, form a single part of a generally trapezoidal configuration attached to the ski presenting a flat area parallel with the ski and raised in relation thereto, said area enclosing the second stop profile and being flanked by two lateral ramps sloping towards the ski and constituting the relaying element.
 6. A binding according to claim 5, characterized in that, in the plane of the ski, the trapezoidal part is in the form of an arc centred on the hinge axis of the jaw on the ski.
 7. A binding according to claim 5, characterized in that the second stop profile, integral with the jaw, consists of a roller bearing on the trapezoidal part.
 8. A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is integral with a sole-plate held in place on the ski at the back and front and adapted to release in safety against the action of a resilient locking system integral with the ski, characterized in that the first stop profile consists of an element integral with the ski, the end of which extends above one of the ends of said sole-plate and presents a flat central area parallel with the ski, extended laterally, and on each side, by a sloping ramp running from said flat area towards the ski.
 9. A binding according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the sloping ramps widens out progressively in its plane, from the flat area to the ski.
 10. A binding according to claim 3, wherein the boot is integral with a sole-plate held in place on the ski, at the back by the engagement of said plate under a bridge and, at the front, by co-operation between said plate and a resilient locking system mounted on the ski and consisting of two arms hinged to the ski, said arms being urged into a specific retaining position by a spring, characterized in that each of the arms of the resilient locking system has a flat area parallel with the ski constituting a part of the first stop profile, said flat area being extended by a ramp which slopes in relation to the plane of the ski and constitutEs a part of the relaying element, whereas the sole-plate comprises, at the end facing the locking system, a release ramp constituting the second stop profille and co-operating with ends of said arms.
 11. A binding according to claim 10, characterized in that the ramp for releasing the plate comprises a nose engaging under the ends of the hinged arms.
 12. A binding according to claim 11, characterized in the ramps of the arms slope upwardly and towards the sides of the ski from the flat area which they extend.
 13. A binding according to claim 3, characterized in that the slope of the lateral ramps is between zero and pi /2.
 14. A binding according to claim 2, designed to co-operate with one of the ends of the boot to allow lateral and vertical releases, and comprising a binding element attached to the ski and a jaw for retaining the boot hinged to said element so that it may move laterally and may lift, in relation to the ski, against the action of at least one resilient locking system, said binding comprising a first stop profile mounted in said element and co-operating with a second stop profile secured to the jaw, in order to prevent said jaw from lifting when it is in its normal position holding the boot to the ski, characterized in that the relaying element, opposing free lifting of the jaw after separation of the stop profiles, consists of a mobile part actuated by said jaw at the moment of its vertical displacement, said mobile part acting upon the resilient locking system.
 15. A binding according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises two resilient locking systems, one of them retaining the boot in the plane of the ski, and the other retaining the boot in a plane at right angles to the plane of the ski. 